The Green IT Review

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Greenpeace took direct action against HP in the US today against what it describes as the company's continuing contribution to toxic electronic waste. Employees at the company's Palo Alto HQ were greeted with the message ‘HP = Hazardous Products’, painted on the roof in large yellow letters. There were also automated phone calls from actor William Shatner calling for the company to phase out the toxic chemicals.

According to Greenpeace, the protest was in response to HP postponing its 2007 commitment to phase out dangerous substances such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic from its products (excluding the server and printer lines) from 2009 to 2011. Greenpeace pointed out that Apple’s new computer lines, which are apparently virtually free of PVC and completely BFR-free, show that alternatives can be used.

HP hasn't made any comment that I'm aware of, but I have some sympathy for the company. Greenpeace has its own view on what the priorities should be and likes to get its point across in no uncertain terms.